MUSSELBURGH – Monday September 16th
Going – Good (Good To Soft in places)
I had a morning in the office before taking the train to
Musselburgh for the Edinburgh Holiday Monday Meeting. There were a few families
at the course, and many on the train making their way to North Berwick to take
advantage of a bright if breezy September day.
Sunday rain resulted in a slight softening of the ground
form good, but the Musselburgh turf is in excellent condition considering this
was the third last meeting of the flat campaign here.
2.10 7f 30yds Batleys Foodserve Handicap (58-64)
A evenly matched if moderate field for the first event of
the afternoon, 14 having been eliminated at final declaration stage.
I arrived about five minutes before the start but the antics
of PARTNER meant I had time to settle. The gelding who unseated his rider going
to post and then ran loose for at least a mile and a half possibly more. It was
slightly surprising that Partner was allowed to take part, and after leading
for four furlongs he was quickly brushed aside. He has ability, but his
temperament isn’t helping.
The result was a dead-heat between two of the in-form
runners here, Fraser Perratt taking in the region of ten minutes poring over
the photo before announcing what everyone had imagined was inevitable.
CARA’S REQUEST is normally a front runner but didn’t lead on
this occasion, although always handy. He took over two out and looked the
likely winner. Keeping on well in the final furlong he battled back after being
headed and got back right on the line.
SUMMER DANCER challenged throughout the final furlong and
gained a half-share of a race he won last season.
The combined age of the first two is 17, so neither is
likely to improve at this stage, but they are both honest sorts who gave their
best to provide a cracking finish.
VIVA RONALDO has slipped down the handicap but showed a
glimmer more than of late, staying on into third place without threatening the
winners. He has won on soft so might be able to land a similar event in the
autumn.
PERFECT WORDS had every chance if good enough and turned out
not be on this occasion. This was a first urn at seven furlongs for this 19
race maiden and he appeared to see the trip out.
MOWHOOB is probably capable of winning at this level, but
doesn’t show too much inclination to exert himself at the business end. He was
comfortably held in fifth.
2.40 7f 30yds Drinks Express 2yo Selling Stakes (Class 6)
MAID IN RIO had not shown much before this, well held at Ayr
and Beverley then outclassed in a sales race at The Curragh, although she did
show some speed in the latter event. This was however a good deal easier and
she showed four rivals a clean pair of heels from the two furlong marker.
Connections went to £8,500 to see off a single opposing bidder. She will
presumably move on to nurseries.
BLACK TREACLE was very late in the paddock, presumably
because he looked rather revved up. He led for the first half of the race, and
kept on honestly enough once passed to hold on to second. The effort suggests
he stays seven furlongs. He’s honest enough and consistent and just caught one
too good on this occasion.
PRINCESS TAMAY hasn’t been brilliant to date. She had two
handlers in the paddock and appeared a bit of a handful. She kept on in the
closing stages but was held by the second throughout the final furlong.
ANGEL ROSA was beaten two furlongs out and disappointed in
comparison to previous efforts.
BOY RANGER was way too lively in the paddock and much too
slow in the race.
3.10 2m Batleys Cash And Carry Handicap (64-79)
A competitive little contest for a decent prize on a quiet
Monday.
MAN OF PLENTY has raced on no firmer than good and one
supposes his trainer feels he’s best with cut. A little bit of juice presumably
suited and he made the trip from Newmarket pay, asserting from a number of
potential challengers from two out.
BOWDLER’S MAGIC impressed with a determined effort chasing
after the winner if never closing fast enough. He seems in good heart for his
new yard, that of David Thompson. Seen out here in hurdles last season
performing passably well, it would be no surprise if he pitches up again in
November when the Musselburgh jumps season begins.
DR IRV was outpace in the final two furlongs and appears on
tougher mark now having been raised 6lbs for a neck win last time out in a
six-runner contest.
HIT THE JACKPOT had every chance two out and wasn’t good
enough when the chips were down.
JAN SMUTS was moved up a couple of grades and didn’t help
his cause by rearing at the start. In rear for most of the way, he made some
progress to threaten briefly over two out but could muster no more at this
point. He needs to drop back in class. He didn’t convince over hurdles last
year and I wonder if Wilf Storey might be tempted to use his staying power at
Southwell.
3.40 5f Best One Nursery Handicap (55-72)
The winner ONE BOY has ability but it’s proven difficult to
get the tactics right since a win at Redcar on debut. He tracked the leaders
and showed a decent turn of pace to hit the front at the furlong pole, sticking
on well to hold the main challenger. He has decent speed and should be capable
of winning again.
BOUNTY GIRL emerged from the field to chase the winner in
the closing stages. She was tried in eyeshields here and ran to the best of her
previous form on this occasion.
I can’t remember seeing too many dead-heats in forty odd
years of racegoing, but there were two on this card with CLASSICAL DIVA and
BOUNTIFUL FOREST sharing third place in this race. The pair don’t look
especially favourably handicapped, but weren’t disgraced here.
NOBLE ASSET, an expensive Breeze-Up purchase, races a little
too keenly for his own good. He showed early pace but was spent by the final furlong.
4.10 1m 1f Best In Claiming Stakes (Class 6)
This was a decent contest for a Class 6 with a number of
older campaigners with decent form in the book. The race offered what I
considered the best bet of the afternoon, the bet paying off as DEMOLITION landed
the money off bottom weight. Entered for £5,000 by Noel Wilson, he was well
favoured at the weights and didn’t look in any danger after taking charge two
out. Demolition has been finding the task just beyond him in handicaps but he’s
done well dropped to claimers and adjusted ratings gave him 7lbs plus in hand.
EXTRATERRESTRIAL, another who has been making his mark now
aimed at claimers, chased the winner form two out and was not disgraced. He
might well find a similar contest and he has won claimers at Carlisle and Newcastle
this season, suggesting that a stiff track suits.
PRIME EXHIBIT is a hard puller who was restrained from the
gate by his jockey. He never got a blow in at the leaders but stayed on in the last
two furlongs to take third place.
ROYAL STRAIGHT chased the leaders two out but couldn’t get
in a serious blow at the leader. He ran quite well at these weights, but he’s
favoured by fast going and time is probably running out this season.
JEBEL TARA ahd every chance and wasn’t good enough from two
out. He had a purple patch when well handicapped early in the season, but he’s
gone up in the weights and found this company a little tough.
SEATTLE DRIVE was squeezed for room two out and never got in
a blow. He was subsequently claimed for £10,000 by David Pipe. Fifth in a big
field maiden hurdle at Galway a year ago, he may now be aimed at hurdles by his
new trainer.
4.00 5f Petrushka Vodka Handicap ( 48-69)
WINDFORPOWER has a lot of races under his belt for a
three-year-old since this was his 38th outing. This was a sixth career
win, a decent record at this end of the spectrum, though this was a first turf
win. He raced prominently, led a furlong out and showed determination to gain
the day.
ECONOMIC CRISIS, noted on more than one occasion here as ‘runs
often but wins seldom’, once again earned a bit of keep with a decent effort
and was closing in on the winner at the line. Not betting material but does enough
to keep her owners interested.
MR MO JO led at a decent pace and kept on well enough once
headed. A sharp five furlongs suits fine, though a win at Newcastle suggests he’s
not one dimensional.
GO GO GREEN, a winner of a seller this year, stayed on from
the rear for a never nearer fourth.
OUR DIANE came to the front approaching the final furlong but
was headed and held in the final furlong.
SAXONETTE didn’t go the early pace and could only pick up a
length or two under driving late on. A fair enough effort, but the race she won
at Hamilton in July was a dire contest and she normally finds a few too good.
5.10 1m 4f 100yds
Xtra Local Handicap (Betfair Stayers’ Series Qualifier) (51-62)
A competitive event won in catching style by an improving
three-year-old filly in Bayan Kasirga. She had tack problems last time when
unseating, so this effectively reads as a second consecutive win. She led two out
and ran on strongly to pull clear. The impression is that there’s a bit more to
come and it wouldn’t be a surprise if she overcomes a weight rise. The final of
this series is held here on October 14th and I would imagine Brian
Ellison will be eyeing that contest.
GEANIE MAC kept on well enough for second and ran up to her
best of this season.
Philip Kirby has recently acquired BURNS NIGHT and he could
take advantage of this one’s current mark. His best form on the flat has been
short of this distance, but he seemed to see out the trip if getting in a blow
at the leader. He may be placed to win in the coming weeks.
VALANTINO OYSTER isn’t straight forward but has regularly
been in the mix lately. Pushed up to
lead early on, he stuck at it once passed but had nothing left in the final furlong.
HIGH ON THE HILL raced in rear and stayed on through the
field to take fifth place. Lightly raced since winning in 2011, Iain Jardine seems
to have the six-year-old in good heart and there may be a minor handicap for
him this autumn.
5.40 Petrushka Vodka Handicap (47-69)
I noted OPT OUT as a possible future winner back in June when
spotting him at Ayr. He didn’t go on from there, but he looked very well and
the latent talent was uncovered on this occasion. Covered up on this occasion,
he came through to lead inside the final furlong and asserted bin the closing
stages.
TOM SAWYER ran a decent race under a penalty. He soon led and
ran on once headed, suggesting that there is another win around the corner.
HERE NOW AND WHY had every chance but was held in the final furlong.
He’s a win in his turn performer, but has been in decent nick of late.
IRISH GIRLS SPIRIT probably needs the ground slightly quicker,
so a close enough fourth was a sound enough effort.
With an hour to kill before the train back to the city I
took a stroll across the centre of the course and walked down the back straight
of the jumps course. The turf is in excellent nick and should please trainers
looking to run in the four jumps fixtures coming up before Christmas. The turf
is very lush and the surface even.
Meanwhile the golfers were appearing for a few late evening
holes on the links. Two of them put on a pretty dire exhibition of putting and
chipping for me to watch. Gives me hope if ever the clubs appear from the garage
again…
Onward past Ma Forman’s pub at the end of the golf course.
It was a sorry sight a few years back, but has had a new lease of life in recent
times and the food menu looks well worth a try.
Other commitments mean I won’t be at Ayr for the Western Meeting,
but I will be on course at Hamilton on Sunday September 22nd. It’s
then on to a belated birthday celebration at Musselburgh the following Sunday
courtesy of my wife, a review of the Epperston Suite to follow! Kelso start
their jumps programme in early October, then I hope to get in another visit to
Musselburgh on October 14th when the Willie Park Trophy heads what should
be a very decent card by normal Monday standards.
No comments:
Post a Comment